Let’s go back to the basics. Definition. I feel like I’m making a thesis right now.
Okay. THis is what Wikipedia says…Dating is a part of human mating process whereby two people meet socially for companionship, beyond the level of friendship, or with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or marriage.
Human Mating. Excuse me while I crack up! Di mada ui!
In English, I can not! hahaha

Let’s get back on track here… Sorry about that.
This blog is about the lessons I learned about dating or my do’s and don’ts when going out.

Just to give you a short background so you can at least say that this blog does have some credibility to it;
I had more than 50 guys and 2 girls who asked me out and wanted to court me. I know because they literally asked.
Too many? I agree. Again, they asked. I didn’t say yes to all of them of course. I only said yes (to the dating, not actual relationship) to around 20-25%.
How do I know? I actually have a list. Yes, an actual list. I started when 3 guys asked me out at the same time (also said NO to all 3) and just kept adding to the list until about 5 years ago. Last count was 53 or 54.

You might be thinking that I play around and this is only for the girls of “my kind” (independent, strong women who knows how to have a good time… lol)
Uhmm.. no. I love love. And I love being in a relationship. I had 3 long ones. 6 years, 3 years and 1.8 year.. All who proposed/ was about to propose to me in one way or another… (I know, I’m a catch. haha) I won’t get into the details but I want you to know that I don’t play around when it comes to relationships.
(Hmmm… next blog might be how to get a guy to propose to you. ;p )

You might think as well that “oh.. she’s so liberated.. Filipinas are not like that. ” etc.. etc.. I don’t know about the liberated part but I do know this, I’m just saying what everybody else is thinking and are secretly doing. I call that guts.
I’m actually proud of what the women in the Philippines have become when it comes to dating. They have embraced the girl power. They know that they have control over what happens to a date and where it can go. They know that a NO MEANS NO. You’re also reading this right now because you want to learn a thing or two.

Dating doesn’t have to be too serious. On the contrary, it should be fun! Just because you’re on a date with a guy, it doesn’t mean that you have to analyze and imagine how many children you guys will be having..
That leads me to…

1. Do Chill

It’s a date. Just a date. Just because you’re in on one, does not mean the guy likes you, likes you. It means that he asked you out because he found you interesting and wants to know you more. If it leads to a second date, good. If not, well, free meal! And that’s always a good thing.

2. Do have an open mind

Guys don’t really think about how one of your nail has a little chipped polish or how a strand of your hair is out of place. Neither should you. You’re not perfect and so is the guy you’re sitting across from! This guy will reveal a lot of things about himself on the first date and so will you. Don’t judge him based on his past experience or if he happens to say a word that you hate. Have an open mind. That conversation or date should not define who they are.

Don’t be a sourpuss or a pampered princess. Be spontaneous! Your plan was to eat at a 5-star restaurant but your date only has 200php? Eat at a pungko2x in your heels and cocktail dress! Why not?

3. Do date more than one guy (at least try it once)

Uh-oh… hey it comes.. the liberated speech from Maria Claras everywhere..
Here’s why I think you should do this: it’s just a date.
You’re not trying to have a relationship with these guys.
Not yet anyway.
If you have a chance to get to know more than one guy, why not? Isn’t meeting and knowing a lot of people a good thing?
I have a disclaimer though… You only do this if you’re just dating. If you want a relationship with a guy that you’re seeing, don’t add another one to the list. You only date multiple guys if you haven’t decided to move forward with any of them yet.
I’m making myself clear, right?

4. Don’t be jealous

I can’t say this enough. You’re just dating. He’s not your boyfriend! Don’t expect that he’s only dating you. There might be other girls. And if there are, it’s totally fine. You’re dating other guys too, right? Unless you’re exclusive, then that does not give you the right to be bitchy when he’s dating someone else. BUT….. if he is texting her while he’s on a date with you, ditch his ass! Your mere presence should be enough to catch his attention and keep it.

5. Don’t expect anything

No expectations. This is one of the best advice a close guy friend gave me about dating. Since he and his date both have no expectations from each other, they are having the time of their lives! They have fun and giddy moments are always there. When they do something special for one another, it’s always appreciated because they never really expect it. Best part? No pressure. This makes falling inlove even better because it just happens. You don’t force yourself to fall for a guy just because you’re dating him.

Here’s a good one. My friend is falling for the girl he’s dating (he doesn’t want to admit this). He used to date multiple girls too but this girl is just special. You can see it when he talks about her. Because of that, he just stopped seeing other people even when he is encouraged. See? Dating more than one person is not a bad thing. That’s when you’ll know who’s really special. The girl is totally falling for him too… she told me, so I know.. (I hope he doesn’t read this). Ego boost! ;p

6. Don’t put out

Yes, he’s attractive. Yes, you like him. Yes, he makes you laugh. But pls. don’t. We’re not Americans. We don’t have the 5th date rule ( sleeping with him on the 5th date is acceptable ) No, it’s not. The only time it’s okay to sleep with a guy if you’re officially a couple. Maybe not even then. Values is what makes us who we are. If we don’t stand for anything, we fall for everything. You have to remember that even when we are open-minded, we’re still Filipinas. If they really love you, they will understand that a no means no.

Premarital sex is an issue in our country that I don’t even want to get into. All I’m saying is that, we can’t control everybody and they do what they do. My point, do it because you love the person. Just make sure it’s official. It’s better if he puts a ring on it though. (If you know what I mean..)

So there you have it!
I hope I was able to help, maybe even raise a few eyebrows but hey… That’s what I learned over the years.
I think I was a guy in my past life. OH well..

Everything is back to normal. No more diabetic-causing chocolates, no more thorny roses or itchy stuffed toys. Kidding. I love Valentine’s day. Everybody seems to be…. floating. Yes, that’s the word, floating.
I see people smile and greet strangers just because it’s Valentine’s day. Where did this all come from anyway? So, my curiosity and the internet got me this..

Apparently, 1 story states (choosing the most interesting) Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure.

Well there you go. Girls all over the world need to thank this guy. But don’t we find it weird that it’s mostly girls that get spoiled on this special day? It’s a day for couples yet girls get more out of it than guys. Materially speaking.

Anyway, you really didn’t think I’d end a blog without sharing my Valentine experience did you?
I’m a girl. Well, a woman for that matter.. and you guessed that right. I was spoiled. But the great thing about my day was that I did not just spend it with my loved one, I got to spend it with my family and friends as well.

Here it goes…

Feb. 14, 201312:00mn

My boyfriend stopped me from whatever I was doing, played “Far Away” from Nickelback on the itunes and asked me to slow dance with him. It was one of the most romantic 5 minutes of my life. Valentine’s day is looking pretty good.

5:30am

Got bored so I prepared coffee and cookies over candlelight. Because candlelight dinner is too mainstream so we opted for a candlelight snack instead.

1pm

You probably figured out I have a night job so I usually wake up at this hour and lo and behold, I woke up to this sweet display. You know what I thought when I saw this? Ice cream for breakfast? alright!!! hehe

5pm

My brother and I had a misunderstanding and I haven’t talked to him for weeks. It is the love day after all.. So I went to his Tattoo shop and gave him a single long-stem rose. See? Girls are not the only ones that need to be spoiled. So of course, we hugged and made up (after bawling our eyes out- so damn emotional!).
We also treated our mom to dinner where we gave her a bouquet of red roses.
Fine. Everybody is getting spoiled today.

After buying a couple’s shirt (we’re corny that way…), my boyfriend and I bought a pack of chocolates and gave them out to total strangers in the mall while greeting them a happy valentine. Seeing their shock and smile (yes, that’s in sequence) made the day even more special for us. Getting spoiled. I did say everybody right?

7pm

Dinner and drinks with friends and their partners was a good way to end the night. We even surprised our boys with the set-up (thanks to my friend Abigail’s efforts). They had no idea that we planned it out. My boyfriend kept asking me when we planned it, how we planned it and how we got away with it.

Boys, just because you’re with your girlfriends almost 24hrs a day does not mean we can’t get away with secrets. Trust me. We can. And we did.
It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.

So there you go. That was my Valentine’s day… I’m hoping Valentine’s day 2014 will top that.

But I do wish that we spread love not just on the 14th of February but everyday of our lives.